Shoe-lacing



(No Model.)

A. G. MATHER.

SHOE LAGING.

No. 309,308. I in Patenfpgqljec. 16, 18 84.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,308, dated December16, 1884.

' Application filed January 18. 1883. (No model.)

Illinois, have invented certain new and useful ing-loops.

Improvements in ShoeLacing, of which the following, in GOIZIIGGIJIOHwith accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective representation of ashoeprovided with lacing embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail showingthe manner of constructing the lac- Fig. 3 is a cross-section of thesame. Fig. 4: is a side view Showing the shoe when laced.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

The shoe shown is intended to represent a shoe of that clash which has alacingslit, and B is a flap or tongue laced near one of its edges to oneof the edges of the said slit, the other edge of the saic tongue beingleft free or loose, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

A A are loops each consisting of a piece of leather folded upon itselfand stitched along its central portion to the under side of the flap B.

O O are the ordinary eyelets, usually arranged near the edges of thelacing-slit.

D is a button applied to the shoe near the upper corner of that side ofthe lacing-slit to which the tongue Bis laced.

E is the lacing-cord, and F is a comparatively short strap applied tothe end of the said cord and having in it a series of buttonholes, asshown.

To lace the shoe I fasten one end of the lac ing-cord near the button D,pass it thence through the inner opening of the upper loop, A, thencethrough the eyelet near the lower end of the said loop from theoutside'of the shoe inward, thence through the next eyelet on the sameside of the shoe, thence through the inner opening in the next lowerloop A,

and so on until the lower eyelet upon the opposite side of thelacing-slit is reached, the cord being passed through that eyelet, thenupwardly through the outer opening of the lowest loop A, thence acrossthe lacing-slit inward through an eyelet and upward and outward throughthe next succeeding eyelet upon that side of the lacing-slit, thenacross the latter and upward through the outer opening in the next upperloop, A, and so on until the lacing-cord passes through the upper eyeletopposite the button D, all of which is clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description, and from referenceto the drawings, that by drawing up or tightening the cord E the shoewill be tightly and firmly laced with facility. After tightening thecord in this manner as much as need be, I wind it around the ankle inthe direction of the button D, and button the strap F to the head of thesaid button, as is indicated in Fig. 4.

It will also be perceived that the cord need not be withdrawn from theloops or eyes in unlacing or loosening the shoe.

I am aware that shoes have heretofore been provided with lacing flaps ortongues having two rows of eyelets therein, and a row of eyelets uponeach side of the lacing-slit, and that separate lacing-cords have passedfrom one set of eyelets to the other and tied in separate knots, and Ido not intend, therefore, to claim the same; but,

Having thus described myinvention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A shoe provided with a flap or tongue, having loops on its under sidealong each longitudinal edge thereof, the instep having eyes or eyeletsalong both sides of its opening or lacingslit and a single lacing-cordapplied through the said loops and alternately through two of said eyesor eyelets, substantially as specified, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO G. MATHER.

7 ELIAS R. BOWEN.

